Protective hood for room air conditioners



June 30, 1959' D. P. MOND] 2,892,424

PROTECTIVE HOOD FOR ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Ju 1953 imtvummml Don P. di

June 30, 1959 D. P. MONDl PROTECTIVE HOOD FOR ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7. 1953 mm H N m m R 0 m United States Patent PROTECTIVE HOOD FOR ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS Don P. Mondi, New Brunswick, NJ.

Application July 7, 1953, Serial No. 366,490

2 Claims. (Cl. 108-3) This invention relates to an attachment for a room air conditioner of the window installed type and more particularly to a protective hood adapted to prevent deterioration of the air conditioning apparatus due to the action of the weather.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a protective hood for an air conditioning apparatus that notonly protects the outer casing of the air conditioning apparatus from deterioration due to weather, but also increases the ornamental appearance of the entire assembly.

The construction of this invention features a hood bent and shaped from a single sheet of material, such as any of the various readily available sheet metal materials, which is suitably secured to the air conditioning apparatus by a simple arrangement of clamping elements whereby the hood will overlie the air conditioning apparatus and be spaced therefrom so as to provide a suitable comparatively large dead air space forming an adequate insulation for the air conditioner, thereby protecting the air conditioner from deterioration while preventing the casing thereof from becoming heated which heat would normally be transmitted to the motor and compressor of the air conditioning apparatus. Therefore, this protective hood increases the efliciency of the air conditioning unit.

Various modifications of the means utilized in supporting the hood on the air conditioner are hereinafter disclosed. Each of these forms of the invention utilizes an elongated strap which is connected to the side portions of the hood, the strap resting upon the air conditioning apparatus to thereby space the top of the hood from the air conditioning apparatus to provide a predetermined air space of considerable size.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a protective hood for air conditioning apparatus that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being readily constructed from various materials, and yet which is inexpensive and highly attractive in appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this protective hood for air conditioning apparatus, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention as shown operatively installed on an air conditioning apparatus;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the protective hood, with parts thereof being shown in section for greater detail;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the blank utilized in forming the protective hood;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view illustrating a modified form of the means utilized in clampingly securing the protective hood on the air conditioning apparatus;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternate means utilized in attaching the hood to the air conditioning apparatus;

Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the elements used in the embodiment shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is another perspective detail view illustrating the construction of a further modified form utilized in lockingly securing the protective hood on an air conditioning apparatus;

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of the hinge elements utilized in the clamping arrangement illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 1111 in Figure 8; and

Figure 12 is a sectional detail view of a further modified form of attaching the protective hood to the air conditioning apparatus.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a room air conditioning apparatus of conventional manufacture shown operatively installed within a window opening having sliding sash 12. Obviously, the room air conditioning apparatus 10 may be positioned in a window opening normally closed by casement windows by cutting a portion of the easement window away as is conventional. The protective hood comprising the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 14.

The protective hood 14 is constructed from a blank of suitable sheet material which, after the hood 14 has been constructed, may be given a protective coating of lacquer, enamel, or any other protective finish of any desired color or colors to contrast with or to conform to the general decor of the home or other building utilizing the room air conditioner 10 and the hood 14. The protective hood 14 includes a top 16 and triangular side portions 18 and 20 which are integrally formed with the top 16. A corrugated flange 22 extends outwardly from the top 16 to provide both a shield and rain gutter for the entire apparatus. An inner portion 24 is integrally formed with the top 16 and extends downwardly therefrom after having been pressed or bent to the desired configuration. Flanges 26 and 28 are integrally formed with the side portions 18 and 20, as are flanges 30 and 32 which are integrally formed with the inner portion 24. The flanges 30 and 32 are used to provide means for spot welding or bolting the assembly together when bent to the shape as shown in Figure 1. The flanges 26 and 28 are bent to form corners for the lower portion of the hood to elirni nate sharp corners. Alternatively, there is provided a flange 34 at the innermost portion of the inner member 24 which may be bent inwardly, as is shown best in Figure 1, to provide a rest for the sliding sash 12. Obviously, in the embodiment of the invention, not shown, for use with casement Windows, the flange 34 may be omitted. It is further to be noted that the top 16 is provided with structural bends 36 which also provide a decorative appearance for the top of the hood. These bends rigidity the entire assembly.

The top 16 is provided with a layer of fiber glass insulative material 38 of such thickness as may be deemed necessary to provide adequate insulation for the protective hood. There is secured to the side portions 18 and 20, as by bolting or spot welding, a substantially U-shaped strap 25. This strap 25 is adopted to seat upon the room air condition apparatus 10 so as to space the top 16 therefrom to provide an adequate dead air space.

With the foregoing structure substantially the same for all embodiments of the invention, various means are utilized to secure the hood 14 on the air conditioning apparatus. In the embodiment as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, there are provided threaded rods or bolts 40 which extend through the sides 18 and 20 and are threadedly engaged therein. The rods are provided with conicalshaped ends 42 which are adapted to. seat within a pad 44 of rubber or other resilient material. Each of the pads 44 is bonded or otherwise attached to substantially L-shaped clamp members 46 adapted to lie against the sides and beneath the bottom of the air conditioning apparatus 10.

In the embodiment as is shown in Figure 4, the threaded rods 48 engage within selected recesses in L-shaped clamp members 50 which function in the same manner as the clamp members 46. The clamp members 50 are provided with recesses 52 within which the heads 54 of the rods 48 are adapted to seat, the rods carrying lock washers 56 holding the threaded rods 48 in position while the rods are slid along slot 58 which communicates with the relcess 52.

In the embodiment as is shown in Figures 6 and 7, the strap 25 has a support member 60 welded or otherwise attached thereto, the support member 60 having knuckles .11, the strap 25 has afiixed thereto a substantially L-shaped support member carrying a threaded nut portion 72. Threadedly received in the nut portion 72 is a rod 74. Substantially L-shaped clamp members 76 have extensions 78 affixed thereto which are provided with hinge portions 80 and 81 hingedly secured to each other. The hinge portion 80 carries an extension 82 provided with a slot 84 through which the rod 74 is free to extend. The extension 82 carries retaining members 87 which function to provide a stop for the freely floating nut member 72. As can be readily seen from an inspection of Figure 8, the construction of the various elements of the assembly is substantially identical to that afiixed to the extension 82. Rigidly attached to the rod 74 is a nut-like member 86 for engagement by a wrench or other suitable tool for rotating the rod 74. It is to be noted that the angular member 81.is provided with a portion of reduced cross-sectional area, as at 88, which is provided with a hollow cylindrical knuckle 90 adapted to coact with the knuckles 92 and 94 formed on the angulated extension 80, the member 81 being insertable through an aperture 95 in the member 80. A pin 96 is utilized to pivotally attach the member 80 to the member 81. Hence, upon rotation of the rod 74, the clamp member 76 may be drawn into clamping engagement about the air conditioning apparatus 10. I

Many makes and models of air conditioning apparatus are provided with louvers, such as indicated at 98. An optional form of attaching means includes threaded rods 100 which carry substantially L-shaped members 102 having detent portions 104 for engaging beneath or in between the louvers 98.

Since from the foregoing, the construction and adv-antages of this protective hood for room air conditioners are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiments shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be readily resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A protective hood for an air conditioning apparatus and container comprising a shaped integral sheet of material, said sheet having a pair of vertical opposed side portions, a rear portion perpendicular to said side portions, a downwardly sloping top portion between said side portions, and means detachably securing said sheet in spaced relation to said container, said means comprising a strap secured to said sheet and spaced from said top portion, said strap resting on said container and fasteners extending through said sheet clampingly engaging said container.

2. A protective hood for an air conditioning apparatus and container comprising a shaped integral sheet of material, said sheet having a pair of vertical opposed side portions, a rear portion perpendicular to said side portions, a downwardly sloping top portion between said side portions, and means detachably securing said sheet in spaced relation to said container, said means comprising a strap secured to said sheet and spaced from said top portion, said strap resting on said container and fasteners extending through said sheet clampingly engaging said container, said fasteners comprising rods threadedly engaged in said sheet, L-shaped clamp members engaging said container, said rods adjustably engaging said clamp members, each including a resilient pad providing a seat for said rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

